Thursday, July 16, 2015

In our interviews for this week's cover story we heard from gang members, community leaders, youth intervention specialists, police officers, prosecutors, city officials and citizens. We collected over 15 hours of audio and heard similar accounts of the same events. In almost every one of these conversations, for instance, we were told about the LL Cool J concert at Barton Coliseum, an AK-47 shooting that made national headlines and a daytime shooting at Burger King across from UALR. Those who lived in Little Rock in the '90s may remember these events, but for those who didn't, we compiled this timeline.

The Los Angeles Times reports on the sagging casino economy in Tunica, Miss., a sag due in part to increasing national competition.

Sen. Jason Rapert has announced on Facebook his plans to file this week a so-called trigger law — like those passed in four other states — that would make abortion illegal in Arkansas immediately if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. Polling suggests the majority would oppose it.

The annual abortion protest marches were held around the country Sunday and, as usual, press accounts duly quoted the misinformation repeated there. From the coverage of the Arkansas march, this stood out:

Gov. Asa Hutchinson has made several public appearances today as part of the observance of King Day and his remarks have included lauding the state's 2017 action (and his own) in ending the dual observance of King's birthday with that of a man who fought to preserve slavery, Robert E. Lee. I have one brief observation on his remarks: